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Friday, February 11, 2011

The National Film Board of Canada has put out a call for submissions for Canadian animators for their latest edition of the Hothouse program. Hothouse is a 12-week paid apprenticeship program for emerging Canadian
filmmakers that takes place in Montreal, Quebec. It provides emerging animators a mentorship with industry professionals while developing their projects.

The NFB states, "This program is for emerging creators from across Canada with the
imagination, vision, experience and enthusiasm to relish the Hothouse
challenge, to flourish in the Hothouse environment and to accomplish the
making of a successful project within the program’s parameters."

The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's public film producer and distributor. They have created over 13,000 films which have won more than 5,000 awards. They have received 70 Academy Award nominations and 12 wins. They are particularly renowned for their animation and documentaries.

The deadline for submissions is February 25. The program runs from March 14 – June 3.---

Hothouse 7: Call for Submissions
Deadline: Friday February 25, 2011
Program Dates: March 14 – June 03, 2011
Theme: “Here be Dragons”
The National Film Board of Canada seeks submissions from emerging
filmmakers (young and not-so-young), and artists intrigued by animation
art, for the 7th edition of Hothouse, a 12-week paid apprenticeship in
full-on, all-inclusive, real-world animation filmmaking. Introducing two new parameters this year:
1. You will be working to a fixed piece of music, to be selected from the 10 specially-commissioned choices below.
2. You will be working from the comforts of your own home or studio but plugged into the NFB live via cyberspace.
Hothouse is about re-imagining ways of making animation, ways that
are faster, more flexible, and which embrace the many possibilities in
the animation process while maintaining creative and technical
excellence. We’re looking for six new talents who are willing and able
to jump head-first into this intensive experience.SUBMISSION CRITERIA:
Submissions must be received by 5pm (Montreal time) on Friday February
25 and must be sent via email (no snail mail submissions will be
accepted). The six successful candidates will be notified by Friday
March 04.Theme and Music:
This year the music will be pre-recorded and selected in pre-production
and not in post-production, so the music is upfront and the animation
will be constructed in relation to it. Five composers were recruited to
create ten music demos based on this year’s theme “Here Be Dragons”,
a metaphor for both the fear and allure of the unknown. We expect film
proposals to reference the music as the primary source of inspiration
and to explore beyond a simple literal connotation of the “Here be
Dragons” theme. You must select one music recording from the 10 provided
below as the basis of your film proposal and understand this sketch
represents the final timing and duration of the music. The final music
may allow for some modification in instrumentation but in all other ways
will remain as-is.Sound:
All other sound elements such as sound effects and ambiances will be
designed, recorded and edited in post-production (after the animation is
finished) in collaboration with the Hothouse 7 Sound Designer.
Recordings will take place at the NFB recording studio in Montreal under
the direction of the Sound Designer.Technique:
You can apply with any animation technique that is feasible within the
Hothouse framework and with which you have facility. It is important to
reveal a thoughtful relationship between your concept and your chosen
technique (whether hand-drawn, stop motion, 3D CGI, collage,
stereoscopic 3D, mixed media, etc). Your proposal must demonstrate that
you have the necessary production tools and know-how to execute the
project as proposed including working in collaboration with the Hothouse
7 team here in Montreal.
Proposals for Stereoscopic techniques should be carefully considered
due to the technical complexity of remote production. However, if you
have sufficient experience with this technique, access to the necessary
equipment, and a convincing conceptual motivation, we will consider your
proposal.Resources:
successful participants will have high-speed internet and a basic
equipment suite capable of executing the proposed technique. The NFB may
provide additional equipment and expertise including to facilitate
remote production and/or to adapt filmmakers’ work into a form
compatible with the NFB post-production pipeline. SUBMISSIONS MUST INCLUDE: (writing and images must be in PDF format)
1. A one-page statement identifying the music track you prefer (from the
ten choices provided) and outlining your idea and intent, artistic
approach, and motivation for participating in Hothouse. Explain the
relationship between your music selection and your concept, and any
connection to the theme (as you choose to interpret it).
Include one paragraph outlining your equipment needs (what you have and what you’ll need from us).
2. Two or three design samples (to demonstrate the look and feel)
3. One-page résumé
4. One example of a previous film (animation or otherwise) no more
than 5 minutes, or an excerpt from a previous film, no more than 5
minutes. Please send only 1 film/excerpt. Media must be submitted as a
URL. See instructions here.
Do not send hard copies. If you don’t have a finished film don’t worry,
but make sure you show off what you can do in your writing and design
samples.SELECTION CRITERIA:
We look for: strength of idea; your ability with the chosen animation
technique; your conviction of vision, creative maturity, originality;
your willingness to embrace the Hothouse challenge.ELIGIBILITY:
Submissions are accepted from across Canada. You must:
• Be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant (no exceptions)
• Have some experience in animation filmmaking or a related artistic field
• Have sufficient know-how and confidence in your chosen animation
technique to begin working right away while remaining flexible and
willing to adapt to remote pipeline tools and processes
• Be relatively new to auteur animation filmmaking
• Be prepared to commit full time for the entire twelve-week period*TIPS*:
1. Propose the film you want to make, not the film you think the NFB
might like. We don’t like that and will roll our eyes at you.
2. Pay attention to clarity of idea and intent in your proposal. If
you’re unsure about something, admit it, and explain why and what you
intend to do about it.
3. The theme is a test of your creativity, ingenuity and artistic
maturity; don’t be afraid to play with it, subvert it, deconstruct it,
both in content and in form. Remember, over a hundred people are
thinking up ideas based on the exact same theme.
4. Ambiguity is not itself a virtue. Cinema is a two-way conversation
so someone other than yourself must be able to
understand/feel/appreciate/be provoked by what you are expressing.
5. Think carefully about how you intend to use the music track as
part of your concept (will it be used literally? Ironically? As
counterpoint?)
6. Remote production is not meant to be a challenge to the social
aspects of Hothouse nor a shift toward a more independent production
model, nor a cost-saver. Our goal is to explore ways of retaining the
collaborative spirit and professional standards of NFB filmmaking while
removing geographic limitations and potentially discovering new
connections (yes, an experiment!).
7. Become familiar with Hothouse. Check out the films and
behind-the-scenes videos from past Hothouse editions for a better idea
about the projects and process. See Hothouse 5 films here.
8. Be sure to read the Rules & Regulations for a better
understanding of what we expect from you and what you can expect from
us.HOW TO SUBMIT:
By emailhothouse@nfb.ca
For more information contact Maral Mohammadian at hothouse@nfb.ca or 514-283-2510RULES AND REGULATIONS:
Hothouse participants will direct an animation short, maximum 1 minute
in length, from creative inception all the way through final sound mix
and video release in twelve intensive weeks. The NFB provides the
support and some resources to master this challenge within reasonable
limits of availability and demands of remote production. By making a submission, participants agree to these expectations:
1. Each Hothouse participant receives a fixed artist’s fee of $7,000.
2. Ideas must be based on one of the ten music tracks provided.
3. Projects can use digital or analogue techniques and must be no
more than 1 minute in length. They must respect the parameters of
Hothouse including available resources and expertise in the Animation
Studio.
4. Participants must be able and prepared to work full time beginning March 14 until June 03, 2011.
5. The NFB will pay for two single return trips to Montreal and back,
at the best possible rate, once for orientation and once for post
production.
6. Participants must be prepared to work with the NFB creative team,
which includes Mentoring Directors, Producers, Digital Imaging
Specialists, Composers, Sound Designer, Editor and the rest of the NFB
Animation filmmaking community.
7. Participants must be prepared to engage fully with the
expectations of remote production, which includes mandatory weekly video
conference meetings, semi-frequent work-in-progress reviews and
workshops, frequent discussions with producers and creative and
technical crew and frequent contribution to the Hothouse 7 blog.
8. Participation with and inclusion in any accompanying Hothouse
documentation (ie. making-ofs) is granted by all Hothouse participants
by virtue of accepting the Hothouse offer.
9. Adherence to five locked delivery dates: offer response, story sign-off, picture-edit lock, final mix, video online.
10. All projects belong to the NFB and will be released as is deemed suited to content and format.
Hothouse films will be full NFB productions created under the direct
supervision of an NFB producer and subject to NFB administration,
distribution and creative controls and standards. Full copyright and
exclusive distribution remain with the NFB.HOTHOUSE 7 MUSIC DEMOS
Composers will remain anonymous until the successful applicants are announced.Track 01Track01 by HothouseTrack02Track02 by HothouseTrack03Track03 by HothouseTrack04Track04 by HothouseTrack05Track05 by HothouseTrack06Track06 by HothouseTrack07Track07 by HothouseTrack08Track08 by HothouseTrack09Track09 by HothouseTrack10Track10 by HothouseThe National Film Board of Canada
Created in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a public
agency that produces and distributes films and other audiovisual works,
which reflect Canada to Canadians and the rest of the world. Since its
beginnings, the NFB has played a crucial role in Canadian and
international filmmaking.Animation at the NFB
Initiated by Norman McLaren sixty five years ago, animation filmmaking
at the NFB has been recognized ever since as a cornerstone of NFB
activity, garnering many international awards for excellence and
innovation. Today’s NFB continues the commitment to a diversity of
eclectic and experimental exploration of animation as art. The panoply
of artistic visions, driven by the passion and imagination of their
creators, reflects novel styles, methods, subjects and cultures and is
expressed across the country.